Heart failure more likely with diabetes

An analysis of information involving nearly two million people has found that diabetics have up to 65% more likelihood of having heart failure.

The Diabetes UK charity stated that this meant people were "dying before their time".

The analysis looked at around 85% of diabetics in England and around half (54%) of people with the condition in Wales.

The National Diabetes Audit reviewed the data and discovered people with diabetes also had a higher risk of premature death and a higher danger of "other complications".

The researchers drew comparisons between the rate of complications in diabetics compared to the general population.

The information showed heart attacks were much higher (48%) in people with diabetes and 14,500 diabetics had one in 2010/11, when only 9,800 cases "would have been expected".

The number of diabetics who had heart failure was 45,000 in 2010/11, when the expected number was 27,300.

They found diabetics had a much higher danger of having to have a foot or leg amputation.

The researchers also said their estimates showed diabetics had a 40% greater danger of death than the general population, with 65,700 deaths in comparison to an "expected" 47,000.

Dr Bob Young, of the National Diabetes Information Service who headed the audit, said: "If everyone achieved the treatment targets that are laid down by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), none of the complications would be inevitable. There is substantial scope for improvement."